CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Maxwell Football Club announced its watch list for the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award on Monday, August 12, which included 19 defensive players out of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Highlighting the ACC contingent was 2023 semifinalist defensive end Ashton Gillotte of Louisville. Also named to the preseason watch list for the defensive award were linebacker Barrett Carter and defensive tackle Peter Woods of Clemson, linebacker Tre Freeman of Duke, defensive tackle Joshua Farmer and defensive end Patrick Payton of Florida State, cornerback Quincy Riley of Louisville, defensive end Reuben Bain, Jr. and linebacker Francisco Mauigoa of Miami, edge rusher Kaimon Rucker and linebacker Power Echols of North Carolina, defensive end Davin Vann of NC State, safety Donovan McMillon of Pitt, defensive end Elijah Roberts of SMU, linebacker Marlowe Wax of Syracuse, safety Jonas Sanker of Virginia, defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles and defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland of Virginia Tech and defensive end Jasheen Davis of Wake Forest.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple-year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. Bednarik is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
Last year’s Chuck Bednarik Award winner was NC State linebacker Payton Wilson who went on to be the third-round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2024 NFL Draft. Wilson was the first NC State player to win the Bednarik Award.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on November 12, 2024, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled on November 26, 2024. The winner of the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 12, 2024. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
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